“Everybody really rallied together and did their best to help him”: Lifesaving efforts in Port Stanley on Friday

Rescuers believe a man experienced a medical event before becoming unresponsive in the water.

Beachgoers and first responders rallied to help a man in the water in Port Stanley Friday afternoon.

Andrea VanWilligen was in the water with her nephew at Little Beach when she noticed the man had slipped off his flotation device and wasn’t moving.

VanWilligen told CTV News, “I noticed he was submerged under water and very unresponsive. So, I approached the man and helped lift his head.”

She then called out for help and told people nearby to call 911. Others quickly converged to offer help, getting the man to shore.

“There was actually three people that were CPR certified that started working on the gentleman immediately,” said VanWilligen.

“The wife had just gone on a little stroll down the beach. When she came back, she was incredibly thankful that all the pedestrians were working so hard to help her husband. Probably within ten minutes or so, fire and EMS showed up and took over. But, yeah, everybody really rallied together and did their best to help him.”

The man was transported to hospital by EMS, but his status is unknown.